Apparatus for controlling air pollution or the like



June 27, 1%67 s B, W RT E ER 3,327,455

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 8, 1966 .I MAGNETIC PARTICLE GEAR Moro/e REMOVE? 78 M 4 2 44H I Dusi:

Collector w X 333% K 66 38 :J SEPAR'T'R Q0 70 701 .;.ir:4 104 40 m CONVEOR MASTER INVENTOI? TA N K .S'z'drw B. Werihez'mer mw zz, Mu 2 a 9L waysJune 27, 1967 s. a. WERTHEIMER 3,327,455

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION OR THE LIKE Filed July 8, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet .2

ll; 2 IN VE N TOR fiG 4 2. dnqy 3, Wer iiez'mer United States Patent O3,327,455 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION OR THE LIKE Sidney B.Wertheimer, 7403 Woodmar Ave, Hammond, Ind. 46323 Filed July 8, 1966,Ser. No. 563,864 12 Claims. (Cl. 55100) This invention relates to anapparatus or system for eliminating or controlling industrial airpollution and other similar types of air pollution. In some of itsaspects, the present invention represents a further development of myinvention as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending patent application,Ser. No. 434,547, filed Feb. 23, 1965, now Patent No. 3,282,047.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedapparatus for removing the solid particles and air polluting fumes fromindustrial smoke and other types of smoke.

A further object is to provide a new and improved apparatus of theforegoing character having means for removing magnetic particles fromthe smoke.

Another object is to provide such a new and improved apparatus havingmeans for washing other solid particles and noxious fumes from thesmoke.

A further object is to provide such a new and improved apparatus inwhich a special liquid or solution is sprayed into the smoke to washdown the solid particles and noxious fumes, and in which means areprovided to collect the liquid and to separate the solid particles fromthe liquid, so that the liquid may again be used. A further object is toprovide such a new and improved air pollution control apparatus which ishighly effective and efficient, yet is reasonably low in cost andinexpensive to operate.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational section showing an air pollutioncontrol apparatus or system to be described as an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section, taken generally along the line 2-2 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section, taken generally along the line 3-3 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section, taken generally along the line 44 inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational section taken generally along thecurved line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control circuit for thedevice for removing magnetic particles from the smoke.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, it will be seen that FIG. 1illustrates an air pollution control apparatus 10 for removing most orall of the solid particles and noxious fumes from industrial smoke orthe like. The illustrated apparatus 10 is adapted to treat the smoketraveling upwardly through a smoke stack 12. The various components ofthe air pollution control apparatus 10 are mounted in the lower portionof the smoke stack 12 or adjacent thereto. The stack 12 is adapted tocarry the smoke discharged by one or more boilers, blast furnaces,steel-making furnaces, or the like.

The air pollution control apparatus 10 comprises means for removingmagnetic particles from the smoke. Such magnetic particles are oftenpresent in the smoke discharged by blast furnaces, steel-makingfurnaces, and other similar furnaces employed in steel mills. In thearrangement of FIG. 1, the magnetic particles are removed by a pluralityof magnets 14 which move through a portion of the stack 12 so that thesmoke will come ice into contact with the magnets. As shown to bestadvantage in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are four such magnets 14 which projectinto the stack 12 through openings or slots 16 in the cylindrical wall18 thereof. Each of the illustrated magnets 14 is in the form of arelatively thick disc or drum.

A suitable gear motor 18 or the like is provided to rotate each magnetat a relatively low speed so that the magnetic particles collected bythe magnet will be carried out of the stack 12. All of the magnets 14may be rotated by a single drive, if desired.

A housing 20 is preferably provided to enclose the portion of eachmagnet 14 which is disposed outside the smoke stack 12. The illustratedhousing 20 is cylindrical in shape and is provided with a plurality ofradial partitions 22 to divide the housing into a series of compartments24, one compartment being provided for each of the magnets 14.

Preferably, each magnet 14 is divided into a plurality of parts orsectors 26, each of which constitutes a separate electromagnet. Eachsector or electromagnet 26 is preferably energized as it passes throughthe smoke stack 12, and then is de-energized after it moves into thehous ing 20. In this way, the magnetic particles are collected from thesmoke in the stack 12, and then are released after the particles arecarried by the magnets 14 into the housing 20. This selectiveenergization of the electromagnets may be accomplished by an arrangementof brushes and slip rings, as shown in FIG. 6. Each electromagnet 26 isconnected between an individual slip ring 21 and a common slip ring 23.Power is fed to the slip rings 21 and 23 from a direct current supply 25through brushes 27 and 29'.

Rotary brushes 28 are also preferably provided in the housing 20 toremove the magnetic particles from the magnets 14. As shown, the brushes28 engage the lower faces of the magnets 14. Most of the magneticparticles are collected on such lower faces, because they come intodirect contact with the smoke. Other brushes, scrapers, or the like maybe provided to remove the collected particles from the other surfaces ofthe magnets, if desired. The brushes or the like may be eitherstationary of power driven.

The particles removed from the magnets 14 drop into collecting hoppers30 and are drawn off through pipes or conduits 32, which preferably areconnected to the suction line of an industrial vacuum cleaning or dustcollecting system 34. In this way, the magnetic particles may berecovered and collected. The collected magnetic particles are mostlyparticles of iron and iron ore, and thus may be re-used in theproduction of steel. Thus, the present invention obviates the economicwaste which would other- Wise be involved in the loss of these magneticparticles. In addition, the present invention prevents the serious airpollution that would otherwise be involved in the discharge of themagnetic particles into the atmosphere. When such magnetic particles ofiron and iron ore are discharged into the atmosphere, they settle fromthe air to produce a particularly objectionable form of dust.

The air pollution control apparatus 10 also comprises means for Washingthe smoke with a purifying liquid, so as to remove solid particles andnoxious fumes and gases from the smoke. Thus, the illustrated apparatus10 comprises a tank or reservoir 36 for holding a supply of thepurifying liquid. Additional liquid may be added to the tank 36 asneeded. The purifying liquid may comprise a water or lime water basesolution which preferably contains additives for oxidizing, neutralizingand breaking down the various noxious components of the smoke.

A pump 38 is preferably provided to Withdraw the puri fying liquid fromthe tank 36 through a suction pipe 40.

The pump 38 discharges the purifying liquid under pressure through anoutlet pipe 42. Preferably, the outlet pipe 42 is connected to a sprayassembly 44 which is mounted within the smoke stack 12. The illustratedspray assembly 44 comprises a plurality of generally horizontal spraypipes 46 which radiate in the manner of a spider from a central hub orcasing 48 to which the pressure pipe 42 is connected. The outer ends ofthe horizontal spray pipes 46 are turned downwardly to provide aplurality of vertical spray pipes 50, disposed just inside thecylindrical wall 18 of the smoke stack 12. The horizontal and verticalspray pipes 46 and 50 are formed with a multitude of spray openings 52,through which the purifying liquid is discharged in a large number offine streams into the smoke within the smoke stack 12. If desired, thespray as sembly 44 may be rotatably mounted on the centrally disposedpressure pipe 42. The spray openings 52 may be angled so that the sprayassembly 44 will be rotated by the reaction to the streams of liquiddischarged from the openings. However, it is not necessary to rotate thespray assembly 44, and it generally is preferred to maintain the sprayassembly in a stationary position, for the sake of long life andtrouble-free operation.

The horizontal spray pipes 46 provide downwardly directed streams, whilethe vertical pipes 50 provide generally horizontal streams of thepurifying liquid. The resulting spray is intimately mixed with the smokeas it travels upwardly through the smoke stack 12. As a result, most ifnot all of the solid particles and noxious fumes are washed down fromthe smoke.

A deflector 56 is preferably providedin the smoke stack 12 below thelower end of the spray assembly 44, to deflect the spray outwardly sothat it will be collected in a channel or trough 58. The deflector 56 ispreferably cone shaped, with its apex directed upwardly. One or morearms 58 may be connected between the deflector 56 and the cylindricalwall 18 to support the deflector in the center of the smoke stack 12.The deflector 56 prevents the spray from falling downwardly through thecentral portion of the stack 12. Instead, the spray is deflectedoutwardly so that it falls into the trough or tray 58.

Another deflector 60 is preferably connected to the lower end of thedeflector 56 to deflect the smoke outwardly as it passes upwardlythrough the stack 12. The deflector 69 is also in the form of a conewith its apex directed downwardly. One or more suitable arms 62 may beprovided to support the deflector 60. The upper end of the deflector 60is preferably joined with the lower end of the deflector 56. It ispreferred to arrange the deflector 56 so that it is lower and overhangsthe upper end of the deflector 60 to a slight extent so as to preventthe spray from running down the outside of the deflector 60.

The illustrated trough 58 is ring shaped and is disposed just within thecylindrical wall 18 of the smoke stack 12 so as to collect all of thepurifying liquid, along with the solid particles and noxious materialswhich have been Washed out of the smoke. While the trough 58 might bestationary, it is preferred that it be rotatable so that the purifyingliquid, with its burden of solid materials and noxious materials, willbe carried to a discharge housing 66 in one side of the smoke stack 12.Thus, the trough 58 is preferably provided with a plurality ofsupporting rollers 68 which travel along an annular ledge 70. It will beseen that the ledge 70 projects inwardly from the cylindrical wall 18 ofthe smoke stack 12.

Means are provided for rotating the annular trough 58 at a relativelylow speed. In the illustrated arrangement, the trough 58 is fitted witha large ring gear 72 so that the trough may readily be driven by a motor'74. A small gear or pinion 76 is mounted on the shaft of the motor 74.While the gear 76 might mesh directly with the ring gear 72, it ispreferred to provide an intermediate idler gear 78 which extends througha slot or opening 80 in the cylindrical wall 18 of the smoke stack 12.

An inclined annular flange or deflector 82 is preferably mounted on theinside of the cylindrical wall 18 to prevent any liquid from runningdown between the cylindrical wall 18 and the trough 58. The flange 82slopes downwardly from the wall 18 and overhangs the trough 58.

As shown to best advantage in FIGS. 1 and 4, the trough 58 is preferablyprovided with a plurality of radial partitions 86 which divide thetrough into a series of compartments or moved over the housing 66, theliquid and other material accumulated in the compartment is dumped intothe housing, from which it is drained outwardly through a pipe 90.

As shown to .best advantage in FIGS. 4 and 5, each compartment 88 ispreferably provided with a separate drop bottom 92 which swingsdownwardly as the compartment moves over the discharge housing 66. Ahinge 94 is preferably provided between the leading edge of each dropbottom 92 and the lower edge of the corresponding partition 86. Asshown, each drop bottom 92 is in the form of a sector-shaped plate.

The drop bottoms 92 are supported by the ledge 70, so that the dropbottoms are held in their horizontal or closed positions, until theymove over the discharge housing 66. Each drop bottom 92 then swingsdownwardly by gravity into the housing 66. As a result, the accumulatedliquid and solid materials in the corresponding compartment 88 aredumped into the housing 66. To close the drop bottoms 92, the housing 66is provided with an inclined wall 96 which forms a ramp leading upwardlyto the ledge 70. At the upper end of the ramp 96, each drop bottom isswung upwardly into its closed position.

If desired, suction may be applied to the discharge pipe to draw theliquid and solid materials out of the housing 66. The suction may besupplied by a separator unit 100, to which the pipe 90 is connected. Theseparator 100 is of a type adapted to separate the solid particles fromthe purifying liquid, so that the liquid may be re-used. Thus, a returnpipe 102 is connected between the separator unit 100 and the mainstorage tank 36. A conveyor 104 is preferably provided to receive theseparated solid materials from the separator unit 100. It will beunderstood :that the conveyor 104 carries the solid materials to astorage area from which the solid materials are eventually removed anddisposed of.

In the operation of the air pollution control apparatus 10, the pump 38is energized so as to withdraw the purifying liquid from the masterstorage tank 36. The purifying liquid is forced through the pipe 42 andthe spray assembly 44, so that the liquid is discharged into the smokestack 12 in the form of a multitude of fine streams or sprays. The smoketravels upwardly through the smoke stack 12 and is deflected outwardlyby the deflector 60 so that thelsmoke is intimately mixed with the sprayof the purifying liquid. As a result, most, if not all, of the solidparticles and noxious fumes are washed from the smoke and are carrieddownwardly by the liquid into the rotary trough or tray 58. The liquidis deflected outwardly into the trough by the deflector 56.

The collected liquid accumulates in each compartment 88 of the trough 58until the compartment moves over the discharge housing 66, whereupon thecorresponding bottom plate 92 swings downwardly into the housing 66 sothat the accumulated mixture of liquid and solid materials will draininto the housing. As each compartment 88 moves away from the housing 66,the corresponding bottom plate 92 is swung upwardly into its closedposition by the ramp 96.

The liquid and solid materials are withdrawn or sucked into theseparator unit 100 through the pipe 90. The separator unit 100 is of atype to separate the solid material from the liquid so that the solidmaterial may be delivered to the conveyor 104, while the liquid materialis returned to the main storage tank 36 through the pipe 102.

buckets 88. As each compartment 88 is The magnetic separator may bedisposed either above or below the liquid washing system in the smokestack. As shown, the rotary magnets 14 are disposed above the liquidspray assembly 44, so that any remaining particles of iron, iron ore, orother magnetic materials will be attracted to the magnets. As eachelectromagnetic sector or portion 26 of the magnets 14 is moved into thehousing 20, the corresponding electromagnet is de-energized so that themagnetic particles will be released from the magnet. The magneticparticles are positively removed by the rotary brushes 28, whereupon themagnetic particles are sucked or withdrawn from the housing 20 throughthe pipes 32.

It will be evident that the air pollution control apparatus is effectiveand eflicient in operation. Nevertheless, the apparatus is reasonablylow in cost and economical to operate. The apparatus is self-cleaning,so that it does not need to be shut down periodically for cleaning. Theapparatus does not involve the use of any high voltages or other safetyhazards. In addition to removing solid particles from the smoke, theapparatus is adapted to wash down noxious fumes and gases.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalentsmay be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined inthe following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling air pollution,

comprising the combination of a smoke stack for carrying smoke or thelike upwardly,

a spray assembly mounted in said smoke stack,

means for supplying a purifying liquid under pressure to said sprayassembly for producing a spray of the liquid within said smoke stack towash down solid particles and noxious components from the smoke,

an annular trough disposed around the inside of said smoke stack andspaced below said spray assembly for collecting the liquid and the solidparticles washed from the smoke,

means for removing the collected liquid and solid material from saidtrough,

a deflector disposed in said smoke stack between said spray assembly andsaid trough for deflecting the liquid outwardly into said trough whileproviding for the upward movement of the smoke around said deflectormeans for rotating said trough within said stack, and a housing forreceiving the accumulated liquid and solid material from said trough atone side of said stack.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, V

in which said spray assembly comprises a plurality of generallyhorizontal spray pipes extending radially in said stack.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1,

in which said spray assembly comprises a plurality of generally verticalspray pipes spaced around the inside of said stack.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1,

in which said spray assembly comprises a plurality of generallyhorizontal spray pipes extending radially in said stack,

and a plurality of generally vertical spray pipes extending downwardlyfrom said horizontal spray pipes and spaced around the inside of saidstack.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a storage tank for holding a supply of the purifying liquid,

and a pump for pumping the liquid from said tank to said spray assembly.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a plurality of rotatable magnets having portions projectinginto said stack for collecting magnetic particles,

and means outside said stack for removing the magnetic particles fromsaid magnets.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a plurality of partitions dividing said trough into aplurality of compartments,

each of said compartments having a drop bottom swingably mounted on saidtrough,

an annular ledge for supporting said drop bottoms,

and a housing at one point around said ledge for rereceiving said dropbottoms whereby the accumulated liquid and solid materials aredischarged into said housing.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7,

including a separator unit connected to said housing for separating thesolid material from the liquid.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1,

in which said deflector comprises a conical member having its apex aboveits base for deflecting the liquid and solid materials outwardly intosaid trough.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9,

in which said deflector comprises an additional conical member with itsapex below its base for deflecting the smoke outwardly around saidfirst-mentioned conical member,

said additional conical member being'disposed with its upper end joinedto the lower end of said first-mentioned conical member.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a plurality of rotary magnets having portions projecting intosaid stack above said spray assembly for collecting magnetic particles,

housing means mounted around said magnets outside said stack,

and means for removing the magnetic particles from said magnets withinsaid housing means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11,

including rotary brushes for removing the magnetic particles from saidmagnets within said housing means,

and means for withdrawing said magnetic particles from said housingmeans.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957,138 5/ 1934 Hasselbach.2,08 8,364 7/ 1937 Ellis et al 210-222 X 2,103,521 1-2/1937 Luly 55227 X2,188,516 1/1940 Payne 210-222 X 2,282,770 5/ 1942 Sarver 55-117 X2,348,418 5/1944 Roesch et a1. 2,387,345 10/ 1945 Pearl 55--223 X2,387,473 10/ 1945 Spitzka 55229 X 2,539,344 1/ 1951 Carraway 26132,646,263 '7/ 1953- Goldberg. 2,677, 3 6'8 5/ 1954 Janecek 261-118 X2,786,575 3/ 1957 Roberts 5-5100 X 2,853,193 9/1958 Crumb 210- 3282,874,839 2/1959 Rogers 55-100 X 3,266,553 8/ 1966 Munters 26133,282,032 11/1966 King et a1 55228 X FOREIGN PATENTS 444,880 10/ 191 2France. 568,287 10/ 1957 Italy.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application No. 1,081,614, printed May1960.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

D. TALBERT, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION, COMPRISING THE COMBINATIONOF A SMOKE STACK FOR CARRYING SMOKE OR THE LIKE UPWARDLY, A SPRAYASSEMBLY MOUNTED IN SAID SMOKE STACK, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PURIFYINGLIQUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID SPRAY ASSEMBLY FOR PRODUCING A SPRAY OFTHE LIQUID WITHIN SAID SMOKE STACK TO WASH DOWN SOLID PARTICLES ANDNOXIOUS COMPONENTS FROM THE SMOKE, AN ANNULAR TROUGH DISPOSED AROUND THEINSIDE OF SAID SMOKE STACK AND SPACED BELOW SAID SPRAY ASSEMBLY FORCOLLECTING THE LIQUID AND THE SOLID PARTICLES WASHED FROM THE SMOKE,MEANS FOR REMOVING THE COLLECTED LIQUID AND SOLID MATERIAL FROM SAIDTROUGH, A DEFLECTOR DISPOSED IN SAID SMOKE STACK BETWEEN SAID SPRAYASSEMBLY AND SAID TROUGH FOR DEFLECTING THE LIQUID OUTWARDLY INTO SAIDTROUGH WHILE PROVIDING FOR THE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SMOKE AROUND SAID